Geoghegan
STEUBENVILLE — Involvement with a presentation like the Herald-Star Speaker Series is a perfect fit for Eastern Gateway Community College.
“I think the partnership between Eastern Gateway and the Herald-Star in sponsoring this series is exactly what we should be doing,” said Michael Geoghegan, president of the school. “We’re in the education business — we’re a community college and we’re here to help provide workforce and educational opportunities to the community.”
Eastern Gateway is the presenting sponsor as the series returns with a Sept. 22 presentation by Eddie Olczyk in the Steubenville High School auditorium.
“Having these types of events fit perfectly into our mission as a community college, so we are really happy to be able to sponsor this,” Geoghegan said.
Hockey has played a big role in Olcyzk’s life. After his hometown Chicago Blackhawks made him their No. 1 choice and the third pick overall in the 1984 National Hockey League draft, he spent 16 years in the league, a career that included stints with Toronto, Winnipeg, the New York Rangers, the Los Angeles Kings and the Penguins.
He served as head coach with the Penguins and worked as a commentator alongside the legendary Mike Lange, who on Tuesday announced he was leaving the broadcast booth after 46 years of calling hockey nights in Pittsburgh. That helped set the stage for a long career as a commentator on Blackhawks’ broadcasts and with NBC Sports. Starting this fall, he will be the lead commentator for NHL games on Turner Sports.
Likely the biggest challenge Olczyk has faced, though, came in August 2017 when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. Surgery and a grueling series of chemotherapy treatments followed, and he was declared free of cancer in March 2018.
That, and his love of thoroughbreds and work as handicapper and racing analyst, is all part of the story he tells in “Beating the Odds in Hockey and Life,” the book Olczyk wrote with Perry Lefko.
It’s a title that really hit home with Geoghegan, who pointed to a discussion he held in July with representatives from the Beating the Odds Foundation. Founded in 1990 by Rocco Scalzi, a former Altoona, Pa., police officer, the foundation’s mission is to keep young people focused on the importance of developing a never-give-up attitude.
Joining Scalzi at the meeting on EGCC’s Steubenville campus was Rocky Bleier, the former Pittsburgh Steeler great who serves as the organization’s co-chair.
“I think beating the odds is a perfect title,” Geoghagen said. “We met with them about their foundation. Our speaker will be a perfect example of that.”
The message is a great fit.
“When you look at our students and our programs, it’s all about beating the odds,” Geoghagen said. “These are students who have had life experiences. A lot of them have had some college, and life has gotten in the way, sometimes in an adverse way.
“They’re coming back, and having the opportunity to get a degree for, basically, no out-of-pocket costs is really life-changing for them. That’s what we’re doing as a college. Our vision is creating opportunities and changing lives.”
When Olczyk takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. a little more than a month from now, he will be joining a list of speakers that includes Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin, Tony and Johnna Mendez, Capt. Richard Phillips, retired Col. Mark Tillman, Rebekkah Gregory, Mark Geist, Jeanine Pirro, retired Gen. Michael Hayden, John Quinones and Matthew Charles.
“It’s something our students and staff will be interested in taking part in,” Geoghagen said. “This is a great program. I think the community is really looking forward to this.”
General admission tickets for the presentation cost $25 and are available at the Herald-Star office, 401 Herald Square, Steubenville, and at the Times Leader, 200 S. Fourth St., in Martins Ferry, during regular business hours. Tickets also are available at heraldstaronline.com and weirtondailytimesonline.com.
A preferred ticket package is available for $50. It includes a copy of “Beating the Odds” and the opportunity to be among the first people to meet Olczyk after the presentation.
A VIP package is available, and includes admission to a private reception that will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Froehlich’s Classic Corner; a selection of beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres; the opportunity to meet Olczyk and have a photo taken with him; a copy of the book “Beating the Odds;” transportation from Froehlich’s to the high school; and preferred seating for the presentation. The price is $150 for a couple and $85 for a single ticket.
For information about tickets and the availability of preferred and VIP packages, contact Diana Brown at the Herald-Star at (740) 283-4711.
Copies of Olczyk’s book are available for purchase at the Herald-Star. Contact Brown for details.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book as well as money generated from a basket auction prior to the presentation will go to local cancer centers.
Area high school and junior high school students will have the opportunity to attend the presentation at no charge, courtesy of the Wheeling Nailers.
Joining the Herald-Star, Weirton Daily Times, Eastern Gateway Community College, WVU Medicine — Wheeling Hospital and the Nailers as sponsors for the event are the Franciscan University of Steubenville, WesBanco, Dan Stephens State Farm, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and WTRF-TV. Special support is being provided by Froehlich’s Classic Corner, EM-Media, Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority and Steubenville High School.
"fit" - Google News
August 14, 2021 at 01:25PM
https://ift.tt/3jSfPb8
EGCC, Herald-Star partnership a natural fit for Speaker Series - The Steubenville Herald-Star
"fit" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SpPnsd
https://ift.tt/3aP4lys
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "EGCC, Herald-Star partnership a natural fit for Speaker Series - The Steubenville Herald-Star"
Post a Comment